Big hits at all kinds of events! DIY dinosaur costume ideas
Dinosaurs are said to have lived on Earth before humans were born.
They’re beloved not only by children but by people of all ages around the world.
In this article, we introduce handmade dinosaur costumes that shine at a variety of events.
We’ve picked a wide range, from impactful dinosaurs that capture large sizes and realistic patterns to ones with a cute vibe.
We’ll present them by material, style, and design, so it’s a good idea to check what fits each occasion.
These can be used in childcare settings for kids in nursery school and kindergarten, and they also make great handmade costumes for events like Halloween.
1. Materials and Taste (1–10)
Dinosaur hat made of cardstock
Colored construction paper is essential for easily making outfits and costumes.
Even if you’re not good at sewing or don’t own a sewing machine, construction paper is a reliable ally—here’s an idea for making a dinosaur costume.
The key feature and trademark of a dinosaur is that row of protrusions on its back, those jagged, fin-like plates.
This is a tutorial for making those plates out of colored construction paper and wearing them over the head.
All you need is colored paper, scissors, and glue—you can make it right now.
If you have a lot of kids, making them in different colors to create a colorful finish would be adorable!
Mask and hoodie
https://www.tiktok.com/@kepplercrafts/video/7151798188343643434Here’s an idea for creating a simple yet high-quality dinosaur look using store-bought items.
Use a hoodie and attach jagged plates along the head and down the back.
Construction paper works, but if you’re sewing them on, felt is convenient since you don’t need to finish the cut edges.
Pull the hoodie’s hood all the way over, and wear a dinosaur mask for the face.
A store-bought mask is the easiest option, but if you want to match the colors to the outfit or choose your child’s favorite dinosaur, try building up the base of a mask with lightweight paper clay and making one by hand!
boa
https://www.instagram.com/p/CKGPH00DA5d/How about making a dinosaur costume out of fluffy boa fabric that’s super cute on girls as well as boys? Boa can be a bit tricky to handle because cutting it produces lots of fine lint, but the finished result is incredibly cute and looks very polished! Use sweatshirt fabric or gauze as the lining for the boa fabric, and stuff the hood to create volume, shaping it to look like a dinosaur’s face.
For the tail, boa alone is too soft, so a good tip is to run wire through it so you can freely change its shape.
race
https://www.tiktok.com/@rmmda_official/video/7255291032898718977The world of lace is so profound that there are even lacework creators and artists.
You can make just about anything with lace—not only doilies and curtains, but also bags and clothing.
So why not try making a dinosaur costume out of lace? A full-body piece large enough to wrap around a person would likely take a lot of time, so how about creating just the signature parts—like a beak, a head crest, or sharp claws—and wearing those as separate pieces? That would also save time.
And since the shapes have beautiful silhouettes, it could be great to collaborate with shadow art, too!
yarn
https://www.tiktok.com/@mom.rabbit82/video/7204385563279969537If you’re good at knitting, making dinosaur-themed knit hats or sweaters with yarn is a great idea.
Become the star of the event with a one-of-a-kind handmade dinosaur knit.
Of course, knitting takes a considerable amount of time, patience, and above all, skill, so work backward from your deadline and proceed with a long-term plan.
Besides the commonly mentioned crochet, there are people nowadays who hand-knit almost anything, so if you’re interested, search online! Yarn types are also very diverse, from standard straight yarn to medium-weight yarn, wool, and more.
This might be your chance to pick up knitting as a hobby.
cardboard
Creating and crafting with cardboard has developed to the point that the term “cardboard art” has been coined.
Many of you have probably seen it online or on TV.
Here are two dinosaur-making ideas using easily obtainable cardboard.
The first is a cardboard costume.
You make a wearable suit out of cardboard to fit a person’s size.
The charm of a cardboard dinosaur is precisely that it isn’t realistic! A Tyrannosaurus should be relatively easy to make, so start by closely observing photos.
The second is a giant art piece—it can even serve as a symbol for an event that catches people’s attention.
Since cardboard is inexpensive, try making a really large dinosaur.
Be sure to anchor the base of the piece with blocks or similar weights so it doesn’t get blown away by the wind!
felt
https://www.tiktok.com/@kigurumiin/video/7059615100365212929Let’s try making a dinosaur felt costume that will make you a hit at parties or in costume events.
If you use felt from a 100-yen shop, the material cost won’t be high.
Even if you’re not good at sewing, you can easily put it together with fabric glue or double-sided tape—so give it a try first.
For the tail, stuff it with newspaper or bubble wrap to add volume.
Make the dinosaur’s dorsal fins and claws thicker by layering the felt.
By simply changing the size, you can create matching outfits for siblings or a parent and child!
2. Design (1–10)
All-in-one
How about making an all-in-one outfit where a little extra size doesn’t matter? All-in-ones are easy for small children to wear, look cute even when baggy, and above all are incredibly comfortable.
If you’re good at sewing, try drafting a pattern and making one from scratch.
The great thing about handmade is that you can size it to your child and customize it.
If making an all-in-one feels difficult, you can also take a store-bought one and just add spiky plates along the back to turn it into a dinosaur—highly recommended!
Dinosaur tail
How about making a sturdy dinosaur tail to really stand out when all you have are paper costumes and masks? Dinosaurs are known for those thick, solid tails that really catch the eye.
Try using fabric to create a slightly unusual cone shape, and add those jagged bony plates so it pops.
If you want a voluminous tail, you’ll need a lot of stuffing, but if you won’t be washing it, you can pack the center with newspaper instead.
For a smaller tail, try inserting wire so you can adjust the shape!
jinbei
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cw3jgqyhDBq/It’s not a costume that looks entirely like a dinosaur, but a jinbei made with dinosaur-patterned fabric.
Kids love dinosaurs, and craft stores sell all kinds of dinosaur-print fabrics.
If you’re making a jinbei, ripple fabric for summer is perfect.
There are plenty of dinosaur-pattern ripple fabrics available, too.
It’s not just for costumes or stage performances—it’s great for summer festivals, preschool or kindergarten sleepovers, and many other occasions.
It might seem difficult, but jinbei patterns are sold in stores, and since most of the sewing is straight stitches, even beginners can make one.